Well, maybe we do need a lawyer. Where's Clyde when you need him?
This from the patent office:
Some persons mark articles sold with the terms "Patent Applied For" or "Patent
Pending." These phrases have no legal effect,
but only give information that an application for patent has been filed in the Patent
and Trademark Office. The protection
afforded by a patent does not start until the actual grant of the patent. False use of
these phrases or their equivalent is
prohibited.
On the other hand, they also say the patent rights start at the date the patent was
applied for. So is it retroactive?
My head hurts. I'm going to go sit in a chair and drink beer.
Chick
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